John Kanu is a UVA student and Cellist for Charlottesville Symphony. We spoke with him about how he got started, how he gets others into classical music, and what he’d like to see change in the classical music field. These interviews aired as part of Classical Sunrise, weekday mornings from 7-9am. Emotive playing How he […]
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Classical Interviews – Peter Spaar
Peter Spaar is the principal bassist for Charlottesville Symphony and a member of the Free Bridge Quintet. Peter talked with us about his experiences teaching, his musical journey growing up, and his love of both Jazz and Classical. For more on Peter Spaar, visit: Charlottesville Symphony website These interviews aired as part of Classical Sunrise, […]
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Classical Interviews – Benjamin Rous
Courtesy of the Charlottesville Symphony profile page Benjamin Rous, music director for Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia, spoke with WTJU recently about his career, his favorite works, and coming to Charlottesville. For more on Benjamin Rous, visit: Charlottesville Symphony website. These interviews aired as part of Classical Sunrise, weekday mornings from 7-9am. How he […]
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Charlottesville Symphony warms to British Riches
The Charlottesville Symphony directed by Benjamin Rous performed “British Riches” February 15-16, 2020. The program included a variety of 20th Century UK composers. The relative rarity of the works (at least on this side of the Atlantic) made this a refreshing and engaging concert. George Butterworth’s “A Shropshire Lad” opened the program. This symphonic rhapsody […]
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Charlottesville Symphony dazzles with contemporary work
The Charlottesville Symphony that opened its 2019-20 season was not the same ensemble as last year’s. About a third of the musicians were new to the orchestra, including two new principal players. Although new, the symphony seemed to retain the weaknesses and strengths of its former self. The first work of the evening, Mozart’s Symphony No. 32 […]
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Charlottesville Symphony Season Ends Energetically
The final concert of the Charlottesville Symphony’s 2018-19 season started slowly and finished in triumph. It was quite a journey. The Saturday, April 24th concerto opened with Wagner’s Prelude from “Parsifal.” This is a quiet, introspective work that uses silence as an important element. The orchestra played beautifully, achieving a shimmering quality in some passages. […]
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Charlottesville Symphony Thrill with Bartok and Mendelssohn
Bela Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2 is a challenging work for both soloist and ensemble. Audiences were treated to a fine performance by violinist Joseph Lin, maestro Benjamin Rous, and the Charlottesville Symphony March 23 and 24th, 2019. Lin possessed all the technical ability necessary for this difficult piece. He played with a clean, pure […]
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Charlottesville Symphony – A triumph and a crowd-pleaser
The Charlottesville Symphony brought the audience to its feet twice Saturday evening. The first time was for an artistic triumph, the second time was for a crowd-pleaser. The orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Damon Gupton, opened the program with Rossini’s Overture to “Semiramide.” At first, I was a little concerned. The overture starts […]
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Charlottesville Symphony combines the unusual and the inspired
Two things I really enjoy in a concert: unusual repertoire, and inspired performances. I enjoyed both in the opening concert for the Charlottesville Symphony. York Bowen’s Concerto in C minor for Viola and Orchestra constituted the unusual. Viola concertos are relatively rare, and British composer Bowen is seldom heard on this side of the Atlantic. […]